2010 03 21

Sunday Class: Matthew 5:10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11. "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Scripture reading: #108

Vespers: What does the Bible say about gambling?

Wednesday: Romans chapter 5

Next Sunday is Palm Sunday… plan for Easter Sunday!

We want to see His 'glory' – but He allows us to see His 'goodness.'

Exodus 33 (Get out your Bibles because as we go through this 33^rd chapter we won’t have all the scriptures on the screen.)

11. The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.

12. Moses said to the LORD, "You have been telling me, `Lead these people,' but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, `I know you by name and you have found favor with me.'

13. If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people."

14. The LORD replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." 15. Then Moses said to him, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.

16. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?"

17. And the LORD said to Moses, "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name." 18. Then Moses said, "Now show me your glory."

19. And the LORD said, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

20. But," he said, "you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live." 21. Then the LORD said, "There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock.

22. When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23. Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen."

Moses said to God, "...now show me your Glory." God said to Moses, "...I will show you my goodness..."

The first thing that strikes me as a bit ludicrous is Moses saying, “…now, show me your Glory.”

Let’s back up to the 1^st verse and look at what all God had promised him…

(vs 1) Then the LORD said to Moses, "Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, `I will give it to your descendants.'

2. I will send an angel before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.

3. Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way."

Isn’t that incredible?

· ‘I’m going to give you a land…’

· ‘I will send an angel before you…’

· ‘the angel will drive out the natives of the land…’

· ‘I’m not actually going with you because basically you are not a likeable people and I just might kill you on the way.’

It is reflective of human nature for people in any era to want to see spectacular stuff. They wanted to see the spectacular when Moses was here, and they wanted to see the spectacular when Jesus was here. They want the spectacular today...'signs and wonders.'

That continues to be a primary difference between the 'handful' and the 'multitudes.' There will be a 'handful' of people, in any era, who are there as Mary (Lazarus' sister) to 'sit at the feet of Jesus' and be content in His Presence. And, there will be a multitude just outside the door who are awaiting an opportunity for a magnificent show, something spectacular, something they can talk about for weeks...something to stir their emotions and pump their adrenaline.

Which group do you find yourself leaning toward?

God still takes care of our enemies. He still sends His presence to be with us… ‘even to the end of the ages.’ Even though…sometimes we aren’t a likeable people – God shows us His goodness.

He shows us His goodness day in and day out. His goodness, His kindness, His grace and His mercies are new every day...

What more do we really need?